Windows 10: System Image Recovery does not offer destination drives

I'm recovering from a system image stored on one of my internal drives. I backed up my original C:\ drive's image. I removed my current NVME drive was originally my C:\ driver, inserted a new NVME instead. Launching from the recovery flash drive, I have an option to restore from image, however, I am never offered a destination drive, instead, the system keeps asking me to install on the same drive where the system recovery image is located. I can see all my drives in BIOS. I was even able to format my new NVME and assign it a drive letter through the DISKPART utility launched from the same r

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[HELP]Image recovery issues

Guys i am trying to fix my cousins Asus Eee netbook. It has a backup image file that is partitioned on the hard drive but when I go to use it the app will run through a few steps and stop. It is running Vista . Any suggestions?

 

Restoring Windows 10 system image to an insignificantly smaller drive

Thanks for reaching out! I'm an Independent Advisor and a Microsoft user like you.

Restoring a Windows 10 system image to a slightly smaller drive can indeed be frustrating, especially when the size difference is minimal. Here are some steps and tools you can use to resolve this issue:

1. EaseUS Todo Backup:

EaseUS Todo Backup is a reliable tool that can help you restore a system image to a smaller drive by compressing the backup. Here’s how you can use it:

Creating a System Image:

1. Launch EaseUS Todo Backup and select "OS" under "Select backup contents."
   
2. Choose the backup destination (Local Drive or NAS).
   
3. Complete the backup process.
   

Restoring the Image:

1. Boot your computer using the EaseUS Todo Backup emergency disk.
   
2. Select "Browse to Recover" and navigate to your backup file.
   
3. Choose the recovery disk and ensure the partition style matches.
   
4. Customize the disk layout if needed and click "Proceed" to start the recovery.
   

2. AOMEI Partition Assistant:

AOMEI Partition Assistant can clone only the used space of your drive, making it possible to clone a larger drive to a smaller one. Here’s how:

Cloning the Drive:

1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant.
   
2. Click "Clone" and select "Clone Disk."
   
3. Choose the source disk and the destination disk.
   
4. Adjust the partition size on the destination disk and enable "4k alignment" if the target is an SSD.
   
5. Click "Apply" and "Proceed" to start cloning.
   

3. DiskGenius Free Edition:

DiskGenius Free Edition is another tool that can help you clone a larger HDD to a smaller SSD. Here’s the process:

Cloning the Drive:

1. Open DiskGenius Free Edition and select "Clone Disk" from the "Tools" menu.
   
2. Choose the source and destination disks.
   
3. Click "Start" to begin the cloning process.
   

1. Prepare the New Drive:
   
   • Ensure the new drive is properly connected and recognized by your system.
     
   • Use DiskPart or any disk management tool to clean and initialize the new drive if necessary.
     
2. Create a Bootable Media:
   
   • Use EaseUS Todo Backup or AOMEI Partition Assistant to create a bootable USB drive.
     
3. Boot from the Bootable Media:
   
   • Restart your computer and boot from the USB drive.
     
4. Clone or Restore the System Image:
   
   • Follow the steps provided by the chosen tool to clone the old drive or restore the system image to the new drive.
     
5. Adjust BIOS Settings:
   
   • After cloning or restoring, enter the BIOS setup and set the new drive as the primary boot device.
     

Additional Tips

• Backup Important Data: Before starting the process, ensure you have backed up any important data from the old drive.
  
• Use a Reliable Power Source: Ensure your computer is connected to a reliable power source to avoid interruptions during the process.
  

Please do let me know if the method I suggested works for you or if you need further assistance.

 

System Image Recovery Hangs

I discovered that if I wait until the step "Advanced Options" to connect the external drive containing the System Image, and then click on "System Image Recovery", the recovery proceeds normally.

If I connect the external drive before starting the recovery process, that is, before clicking on "Shift" and "Restart", the system hangs when I get to the "System Image Recovery" step.